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Arnold Landon #3
A Trout in the Milk
Whe Arnold Landon is sent by his Senior Planning Officer to settle a dispute in the rolling hills of Nurthumbria, he envisions a serene, leisurely assignment, one where he'll be able to indulge his passion for architecture.
But life isn't as peaceful as it seems in this bucolic setting. The squabble over land is getting ugly; everyone wants his piece. Patrick Willington, an aging aristocrat, has filed with the Planning Office yet another in a series of totally impractical requiests. He wants to build a sawmill on the land, an idea that is hopelessly out-of-date and would never enable him to raise even a fraction of the sum he needs merely to maintain his decaying estate.
A consortium of businessmen claims to have nothing but zeal for community service in their plan to build an old-age home on the land, but Arnold senses that their public-works development is but a cover for some thinly disguised profit-making scheme. They have a staunch opponent in Mildred Sauvage-Brown, the fiercely independent spinster who will stop at nothing to preserve her life on the medieval farm she shares with a mysterious female companion. Much as Arnold sympathizes with Mildred, he cannot approve of her hellfire methods of intimidation and sheer bullying - though he approves of the businessmen still less.
Intense passions and a clash of wills produce a violent death, which once again has Arnold embroiled in a murder investigation whose rain-soaked finish will leave you breathless.
But life isn't as peaceful as it seems in this bucolic setting. The squabble over land is getting ugly; everyone wants his piece. Patrick Willington, an aging aristocrat, has filed with the Planning Office yet another in a series of totally impractical requiests. He wants to build a sawmill on the land, an idea that is hopelessly out-of-date and would never enable him to raise even a fraction of the sum he needs merely to maintain his decaying estate.
A consortium of businessmen claims to have nothing but zeal for community service in their plan to build an old-age home on the land, but Arnold senses that their public-works development is but a cover for some thinly disguised profit-making scheme. They have a staunch opponent in Mildred Sauvage-Brown, the fiercely independent spinster who will stop at nothing to preserve her life on the medieval farm she shares with a mysterious female companion. Much as Arnold sympathizes with Mildred, he cannot approve of her hellfire methods of intimidation and sheer bullying - though he approves of the businessmen still less.
Intense passions and a clash of wills produce a violent death, which once again has Arnold embroiled in a murder investigation whose rain-soaked finish will leave you breathless.
202 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Roy Lewis
178 books76 followersJohn Royston Lewis, who published his fiction under the name Roy Lewis, was a prominent English crime writer who wrote more than 60 novels. He was also a teacher, and he taught Law for 10 years before being appointed as One of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Further & Higher Education. He lived in the north of England where many of his novels are set.
Lewis is also the author of several law texts, which he published under the name J.R. Lewis.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Lewis is also the author of several law texts, which he published under the name J.R. Lewis.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 15, 2021
Great read
Kept you guessing throughout the book. Main character is not a detective yet he becomes intimately involved with the case and comes face to face with the killer.
Kept you guessing throughout the book. Main character is not a detective yet he becomes intimately involved with the case and comes face to face with the killer.
May 29, 2021
A wonderful atypical murder mystery filled with the unique abilities of a man who in another time been a master craftsman, becomes the solver of modern day mysteries.
Arnold, the quiet genius obsessed with antiquities, more appropriately with the craftsmanship of master woodworkers and the work they did in the 12th century and forward, creates a framework in which his knowledge is the key to solving mysteries.
Arnold, the quiet genius obsessed with antiquities, more appropriately with the craftsmanship of master woodworkers and the work they did in the 12th century and forward, creates a framework in which his knowledge is the key to solving mysteries.
July 4, 2021
Quite A FEW TWISTS, but SUCCESS in the end.
My 2nd Roy Lewis mystery with Arnold Landon of the Planning Commission getting into the thick of things. I enjoyed it. After reading the 1st in the series, I picked up this 2nd one and also the 3rd. Why not? Good writing and great story with a odd assortment of characters. Give this series a try -- there's plenty to like.
My 2nd Roy Lewis mystery with Arnold Landon of the Planning Commission getting into the thick of things. I enjoyed it. After reading the 1st in the series, I picked up this 2nd one and also the 3rd. Why not? Good writing and great story with a odd assortment of characters. Give this series a try -- there's plenty to like.
July 5, 2021
A different pace
The detective/crime novels I usually read are a more active pace than this book. It must be set in 1980s or earlier, before mobile phones anyway. Once I understood the time this was set in, I reset my expectations. Very well written book, excellent grammar and English. I quite liked it, it wasn’t overly complex and was an easy read.
The detective/crime novels I usually read are a more active pace than this book. It must be set in 1980s or earlier, before mobile phones anyway. Once I understood the time this was set in, I reset my expectations. Very well written book, excellent grammar and English. I quite liked it, it wasn’t overly complex and was an easy read.
May 30, 2021
Excellent read.
A very good read, I enjoyed it. The reader is kept interested the whole way through. Just when you think you know were things are going - there’s another development. It’s quite fascinating and very cleverly written.
Thank you.
A very good read, I enjoyed it. The reader is kept interested the whole way through. Just when you think you know were things are going - there’s another development. It’s quite fascinating and very cleverly written.
Thank you.
June 18, 2021
A wellpaced, beautifully written mystery, with credible characters and plot. Roy Lewis never drops below the high standards he set for himself years ago; an object lesson for all aspiring mystery writers.
July 15, 2021
Another good story
Another good story in the Arnold Lands on series set in Northumberland. For a Local Governments Officer he certainly gets into some interesting situations.Looking forward to reading more.
Another good story in the Arnold Lands on series set in Northumberland. For a Local Governments Officer he certainly gets into some interesting situations.Looking forward to reading more.
August 6, 2021
Who will die?
Penbrook farm is the center of the mystery. Can Arnold Landon, the planning officer, find a way to solve the murder of Sarah Ellis while carrying out the duties of the job?
Penbrook farm is the center of the mystery. Can Arnold Landon, the planning officer, find a way to solve the murder of Sarah Ellis while carrying out the duties of the job?
September 4, 2021
Murder in the Farmhouse
A suspenseful murder mystery with a lot of twists and turns providing an interesting tale of how an ordinary public servant stumbles into having work at being a detective.
A suspenseful murder mystery with a lot of twists and turns providing an interesting tale of how an ordinary public servant stumbles into having work at being a detective.
October 12, 2022
A one day read. Landon is a curious character and unusual in his interests. Solitary but likeable. The mystery got a bit confused with a secondary plot or maybe more than that. At some point I will download #4.
February 9, 2024
Arnold Landon is such a refreshing protagonist - awkward and often uncertain of himself but in possession of an unbreakable moral compass and seemingly limitless knowledge of history. "Murder in the Farmhouse" thus offers another riveting murder mystery and fascinating land dispute.
December 12, 2024
The Arnold Landon series has really been a wonderful find!! The rich historical information; unlikely hero; varied twists and turns in this who don it series contributes to making it a page turner for me.
June 27, 2021
Mysterious Northumberland
Third of this series that is set in a beautiful part of the country- well developed characters - anenjoyable nostalgic read.
Third of this series that is set in a beautiful part of the country- well developed characters - anenjoyable nostalgic read.
December 5, 2021
This was a great book that was an interesting read.
It wasn’t a stressful book with horrendous murders every other page, but it is a good solid murder mystery book.
It wasn’t a stressful book with horrendous murders every other page, but it is a good solid murder mystery book.
December 23, 2022
Another good-to-get-your-teeth-into book - some surprising twists and turns and poor Arnold really gets caught up in the most unusual of circumstances!
September 3, 2023
Love, love, love these books. Right up my interest alley. I learn so much about medieval architecture, England and enjoy a good mystery with a great main character at the same time. Lovely.
May 9, 2025
Too slow, too long. But I liked the characters and the premise of the series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews